Valynda wrinkled her nose. “Really, rather not.”
“If you want to stay here and have power, drink.”
Do I have to?She barely bit those words back as she cringed at what had to be the most disgusting act on the planet. Who had thought of this? Ick!
Nibo winked at her. “Tastes like chicken.”
The hell he said. “You’re not funny.”
“But I am cute.”
Not at the moment. Cringing and revolted, she reached for the concoction she was certain would hit every gag reflex in her entire body. There was no way it would go down and stay. This would be worse than any hangover cure ever invented.
With three deep breaths, she closed her eyes, braced herself, and knocked it back.
And aye, she gagged. Yet somehow managed to keep it down. But not without grabbing Nibo’s sleeve and twisting her hand in it.
“You all right?”
Most certainly not! Was he kidding? It was even more revolting than she’d imagined.
Yet she shook her head, then pounded on his arm. “Hate you so much!” Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as she stuck her tongue out and tried to get rid of the taste.
Nibo handed her his kimen, which she quickly opened and gulped down without a care. He smirked at Legba. “And you thought she wasn’t one of us. Bah!”
Legba rolled his eyes. “We have a problem.”
“Seems we’re having a lot of those lately.”
Legba wasn’t amused by his sarcasm. Rather, he grabbed Nibo’s arm. “Stay focused. I need you to find your brother.”
“Why?”
“Notice what’s missing?”
Valynda looked around the exquisite town that seemed to have everything imaginable. Gilded buildings. Swans that swam. Singing seagulls. Colorful buildings. No detail appeared missing.
Yet the humor faded from Nibo’s amber eyes as he turned a bit pale. “The petro.”
Legba nodded slowly. “They’ve been gone for hours and no one knows where.”
Nibo broke off into a round of cursing that left Valynda blushing.
Valynda wanted to ask why that incited such a hostile reaction but figured this probably wasn’t the best time to go into it. Especially since everyone else was staring at them with a curiosity that made her want to run and hide.
Nibo ground his teeth and sighed. “I’ll find them, and Qeenan.”
“Good. Then bring your brother back here and I’ll deal with them all.”
Inclining his head, he stepped away and took her hand.
As soon as the others had dispersed, she leaned in to whisper in his ear. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, Valynda felt so peculiar. Odd and off. Like the world around her was tilting …
She tried to get her bearings, but she felt more like she was at sea in a storm on the main deck. Churning about in the waves as they slammed against her and sent her reeling.
